Cassper Nyovest did it. He filled up the Ticketpro Dome. Many people doubted he would do it, and I was one of them.
I remember that in July I was at the Joyous Celebration 19 concert at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre and the arena was sold out.
It’s common knowledge that only Joyous Celebration can sell out a venue as big as the ICC. I even tweeted that Cassper needed to somehow invite Joyous Celebration to perform at his concert so he can really fill up the Dome.
Well, apparently there wasn’t any need for that. He filled the Dome. Yes, there was some corporate involvement. I’m sure BP bought thousands of tickets to give away to their employees and clients, but that’s neither here nor there. That he managed to sell out a 20 000-seat venue shows that South Africans have changed their mindsets when it comes to supporting their artists.
And I believe our artists can now have proper tours, giving performances complete with all the fireworks, dancers and costume changes we expect from a major concert. Stadium status is attainable if you give your audience exactly what it wants – its money’s worth. Joyous does it every year. Now it’s time for other artists to do the same.
I remember AKA’s interview on Metro FM’s The Touchdown. He had just headlined a concert in Nigeria and came back with a different mindset after seeing that corporate Nigeria supports its artists and makes sure they are given the star billing they deserve. Also, when an international artist comes to perform in the country, they are paid the same as the Nigerian artists. In fact, the Nigerian artists close the show, instead of the international artist.
So much history was made last night!!! So much peace was in the building !!!! It's bigger than me!! #FillUpTheDome pic.twitter.com/zCgqat7cWE
— October 31st TheDome (@CassperNyovest) November 1, 2015
I was impressed because that’s what should be happening in South Africa, but it’s not. It shows that Nigeria regards its artists as a major part of the country’s economy, so why not treat them well?
What Cassper’s dream to fill up the Dome has done is instil hope in the music and entertainment industry that it is possible to do big things, that you shouldn’t be afraid to want to do big things, and that we are starting to have major star wattage in the country that corporate companies are willing to get behind – and it’s good to see.
I may not be a fan of Cassper’s personality (his faux humble aura irks me) or his music (pedestrian, at best) but his drive and work ethic are faultless. And, like he says in his song Mama I Made It, he sure has.
The Sunday Tribune